The World Law Group (WLG), ranked as an Elite Global Network by Chambers and Partners, is one of the oldest and largest global networks of independent full-service law firms catering to the global legal needs of multinational companies – membership in which is exclusive only to top-tier law firms from all over the world. With Vietnam as the venue for this year’s WLG Fall Conference and VILAF as the sole Vietnamese member firm of the WLG, VILAF rose to the glorious occasion of hosting the 2019 WLG Fall Conference on September 19 to 21. In it, VILAF proudly welcomed delegates – senior practitioners and lawyers from all over the world – to the breathtakingly beautiful city of Da Nang for an unprecedented weekend of learning, connecting, diversity, and inclusiveness.
VILAF - Ho Chi Minh City’s very own Managing Partner, Mr. Tung Ngo delivered the opening remarks for the conference, welcoming “brothers and sisters” in the profession and inviting everyone not only to fully maximize the conference experience, but to embark on a journey of discovering Vietnam as well. Beginning with an introduction to Vietnam’s history, current and projected business environment, the conference brought together delegates to participate in various fora, practice groups, and regional meetings as well as plenary discussions on millennials in the legal industry, emotional intelligence and Dancing Among the Giants, aptly dealing with the dynamics between national and international law firms.
The schedule was also packed with activities for exploring of the beautiful coastal city of Da Nang and the adjacent ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 140 delegates and guests participated in this conference and found it an opportunity to get to know Vietnam intimately, along with its young vibrant economy and its long history of cultures and traditions.
Indeed, there could not have been a more opportune time (or place) for top senior lawyers in the world to gather together and get acquainted with Vietnam than in the midst of Vietnam’s rapid and increasingly strong economic growth, making Vietnam emerge as a key player in global investment and trade dynamics beyond the borders of the South East Asian Region. Of interest to various stakeholders as well, is the fact that the surge in foreign direct investments, the steady upwards trajectory in the service and industrial sectors, and the noticeable improvement in the overall business environment receives much support from the government, as can be seen in the developments in the Vietnam regulatory frameworks.
The WLG Conference not only paves the way for borderless collaboration and worldwide expertise, but also allows VILAF to continue forging stronger ties with fellow WLG Member Firms all over the world – making world-class cross-border legal services available to multi-national companies within and outside Vietnam.